So, today I tried my hand at making a wood-textured shard, and let me tell you, it was a ride. I started with this idea in my head of what I wanted it to look like, you know, all rough and cool, like something you’d find in a forest but, like, sharper.
First, I grabbed this piece of basswood I had lying around. It’s pretty soft and easy to work with, so that’s what I usually go for when I’m doing these little projects. I sketched out a basic shard shape on it, just freehand, nothing fancy. Didn’t want it to look too perfect, you get me?
Then came the fun part – carving! I started with a larger chisel to get the general shape down. I chipped away at it, going with the grain mostly, trying to make it look all jagged and pointy. I had to be careful not to take off too much at once. Slow and steady wins the race, as they say. Once I got the rough form, I switched to a smaller, detail chisel.
This is where I really started to get into it. I made these little grooves and notches along the edges, trying to make it look like the wood was cracked and splintered. I even used the tip of the chisel to create some texture on the flat surfaces, just tapping away to make little dents and scratches.
Here’s a breakdown of the tools I used:
- Basswood block
- Larger chisel for rough shaping
- Smaller detail chisel for, well, details
- Sandpaper (various grits)
- Wood stain (dark walnut)
- Clear coat sealant
Getting the Wood Grain to Pop
After I was happy with the shape, I moved on to sanding. I started with a coarser grit sandpaper to smooth out any really rough spots, then gradually moved to finer grits to get a nice, smooth finish. I made sure to sand with the grain to avoid any weird scratches.
Next up was the staining. I used a dark walnut stain because I wanted that deep, rich wood look. I brushed it on, let it sit for a few minutes, then wiped off the excess with a rag. The stain really brought out the grain and made all those little details I carved pop.
Finally, I finished it off with a couple of coats of clear sealant to protect the wood and give it a bit of a sheen. I let that dry completely, and bam! My wood-textured shard was done.
Honestly, it turned out way better than I expected. It’s got that rustic, weathered look I was going for, and it feels pretty cool to hold. I’m thinking about making a few more and maybe turning them into some kind of weird, artsy thing. Or maybe I’ll just keep this one on my desk as a reminder that even a simple piece of wood can be turned into something pretty neat.
